Billionaire's Auction: Uncovering the BBW by Lara Stern Page A

massive convention center that would be her office for the next few days.
    He was busy, hunched over a planning table gesturing enthusiastically at something. All around him assistants worked to setup.
    Dawn stood in front of him for several moments before clearing her throat.
    “Mr. Cartwright?”
    His head shot up and he flashed a billionaire smile.
    “Yes?” he said.
    “My name is Dawn Winters, I’m with Event Solutions.”
    “Right, Dawn, sit down, please!”
    She thanked him and took a seat.
    “Ready to get to work?” he asked her.
    “Always, sir, but I have to be honest – you weren’t exactly clear what services you would be needing.”
    “I need a cupid.”
    “Er…cupid, sir?”
    “That’s right. All of this. It’s my digital cupid, and I need you to make sure it runs smoothly.”
    “I’m not exactly a matchmaker, sir.”
    “You don’t need to be. Like I said, it’s all digital. I just need you to run the crowds.”
    “How many people are we expecting. My office was unclear but someone mentioned ten thousand? Plus? That can’t be right.”
    “At least that many!” he said, enthusiastically.
    “I don’t mean to be crass, but have you tried OKCupid?”
    He laughed.
    “People can’t imagine that this life of mine could be difficult—but in ways it is. I never know people. Truly, I mean. What they want, why they’re here. When you have as much money as me everyone has an ulterior motive. A billion dollars attracts the best of the best conmen…and conwomen.” He mumbled. “I mean, if I honestly tried to sort through all my potential mates-“
    “Mates?”
    “There’s probably a better word” he added quickly “but if I actually tried… well, I might be dead before I found someone honest!”
    “What about the whole secret billionaire playboy fantasy. Every girl has it. Just don’t tell them about the money until you know they love you for you.”
    He waved his hands “I’ve tried that.”
    Dawn smiled, a look of surprised approval on her face.
    “Anyways. No. I know what I need to do. What will work.”  His words came out quick
    “Here let me show you.”
    He led her past several bustling assistants and through a small blue curtain where even more kids in lab coats hovered around a table covered in laptops, desktops and cords.
    “I’ve developed an algorithm.”
    “Uh…”
    “All of my other problems can be solved by money and ingenuity? Why not this one? Why must a man who demands perfection in every part of his life settle for the common dating practices of the common man? Why must a man who can have anything in the world settle for just any woman.“
    Dawn didn’t answer.
    “I won’t settle” he said “I’m going to solve this part of my life once and for all, just like I’d solve any other problem. I’m advertising my eligibility and holding an event. That’s where you come in. I need your company to run that event.”
    “First the girls will be put through a proprietary screening software my company has developed. It identifies and throws out any candidates who disagree with me on key ideological and social points. Make sure they have certain features.  I don’t want any cheaters or closet republicans after all! And while money isn’t an issue, I want to make sure I find someone who is independent. Who has ambitions and goals. “
    “And you can test for all that? Seems a little hopeful.”
    “Here try it out when you get a free moment” he said, casually handing her a tablet. “The second stage will be in person at the event. I will choose the girls I am attracted to, and who I see having a future will physically. Once the other girls are dismissed we will begin a brief interview where I will meet them individually and get my first impressions. You know in the first thirty seconds, Dawn. “
    There was a long pause.
    “Know what?”
    “If the person is right for you.“ He added “Hopefully that little spark will be there… one, or a few of the